Testing of a mobile robotic welding solution to raise shipbuilding efficiency has begun in Italy. The MR4Weld outdoor automated system is the first issue of a collaboration agreement implemented in 2021 by Trieste-headquartered international shipbuilding group Fincantieri and Turin-based industrial robotics specialist Comau.

Considered a new paradigm in bringing automation beyond the factory floor, the articulated machine will be used within Fincantieri shipyards to autonomously weld steel structures. It offers the possibility of a three-fold gain in productivity relative to labour-intensive, manual welding, along with improved weld quality and reduced ergonomic risks. The development may also be seen as a pro-active response to the global shortage of welding professionals.